April is Financial Literacy Month
Learning to Make the Most of Your Money
April is Financial Literacy Month, a time for people of all ages to build brighter financial futures.
Research highlights that building financial knowledge can make a meaningful difference, helping individuals better manage debt and grow their emergency savings.
This is why my office is committed year-round to providing free, accessible financial literacy resources for Illinois residents. From young learners to adults, we offer resources designed to support the entire family on their financial journey.
Librarian Toolkit for Financial Literacy Month
Financial Literacy Month is a great opportunity to highlight books about money and offer programming that connects patrons of all ages with free personal finance resources. We have a toolkit for librarians with downloadable materials, activities, and programming ideas for all ages. If you have any questions about the library toolkit, contact Maggie Owen at mowen@illinoistreasurer.gov.
Story Time for Ages 3-5
Our Money Minded Illinois program offers story times for ages 3-5. You can host your own early childhood story time using materials provided below, including a full lesson plan, story time activity packet, and a take-home packet. You can also request an Illinois State Treasurer’s Office staff member to visit your library and lead story time (subject to availability).
Activity Packets for Children and Families
Book displays can be a great way to encourage patrons to select a book about financial education concepts. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has created the Money as You Grow Bookshelf for Parents and Caregivers. The list labels books by age group and key ideas covered in the story.
The American Library Association in partnership with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation created a guide for librarians, Thinking Money for All Kids: Cents-ational Reads to Teach Young People About Money. It includes a reading list for different age groups and programming ideas. Digital games and additional resources can be found on the American Library Association website.
The Treasurer’s Office has created activity packets from content in our standards-based curriculum. Packets are organized by grade level (first grade through middle school) and include a cover page listing the topics. To cover a range of basics for 6th–8th grade, we created topic-based packets. Packets can be incorporated into a program (ex., game tables organized by grade level), placed next to a book display, sent home with families, and more.
Teens and Adults
We are proud to offer all Illinois residents access to free personal finance tools and resources through the Illinois Financial Wellness Hub, powered by Enrich. The FinWell Hub platform is easily accessible from a computer or mobile device and provides on-demand resources to fit any schedule.
In addition to an online library of over 120 financial topics, Illinoisans also have free access to Certified Personal Finance Coaches. Create a free account today and tell your friends!
(Account holders must be at least 13 years old.)
Passport Challenge
Programs for teens and adults can be built around the FinWell Hub, which is open to users aged 13 and older. To support this, the Treasurer’s Office created the Personal Finance Foundations Passport. Patrons complete FinWell Hub courses and earn “stamps” in their passport along the way.
Libraries can use the passport as part of a prize drawing by offering one entry for each completed course. Participants can also download a certificate upon completing a course if proof of completion is required.
You can download either a full-color or printer-friendly version of the passport from the FinWell Hub section below.
- Personal Finance Foundations Passport (full color)
- FinWell Hub Personal Finance Foundations Passport – printer-friendly
Goal Setting Workshop
Your library could provide a financial goal-setting workshop for adults, linking back to tools and resources on the FinWell Hub. A goal-setting worksheet with SMART goal examples is available for download in the FinWell Hub section below. Presentation slides are available if you would like to host a workshop – contact Maggie Owen at mowen@illinoistreasurer.gov for access.
We hope these materials inspire you to provide financial literacy programming in your local library.